VOiP is synchronous computer mediated communication that appeared in about 2004. Many VOiP providers, including Skype, provide text chat concurrently with voice. There is not yet much research on VOiP in teaching and learning, especially not in primary or secondary education. Most VOiP providers offer free calls between members. That is, a free Skype account-holder can call Skype account-holders for free anywhere in the world at any time. The examples used here relate to Skype, but teachers could use other providers.
In 2007 the effectiveness of Skype as a learning tool was examined in Yang & Chang (2007). The findings were not conclusive, but students' oral English proficiency improved when they used Skype. The research focused on whether a structured synchronous CMC discussion would improve English oral proficiency more than an unstructured synchronous CMC discussion. The researchers discovered the experimental group and the comparison groups increased their oral proficiency by about the same amount.
Below is a Teachertube example of a synchronous CMC event mediated through Skype. It a conference between a tutorial group, a tech-smart teacher and Wesley Fryer, a teacher-advocate of new technologies in the classroom (his webpage is here). This video represents a fraction of the potential of VOiP technology in education. In it Wes, Miguel Guhlin and a class of adult learners discuss the advantages of Skype in the classroom. Note how teachers remain in control, with occasional questions from students without a microphone (hence the poor audio quality of these 'outside' voices). The discussion refers to Pamela and Call Recorder. These inexpensive applications enable the recording of Skype conversations as well as the production of video footage and mashups, which can be used as assessment tasks or posted onto content sharing sites. Participants in conferences can also exchange files (eg. .doc, .pdf, .mp4 ) using Skype.
Examples
1. Classroom-based SCMC using Skype
English/English Skype conversations have taken place between Isik College students and students from international sister colleges in USA, Turkey and Malaysia. Below is an example of the type of conversations that might take place. Far from perfect, these conversations are halting and there is considerable nervous laughter from the participants. However, with practice and familiarity, such voice chat activities become more productive. Dickinson College in Pennsylvania USA now uses Skype extensively in its language teaching and learning (Bryant, 2006). Textbooks are now being produced that advise teachers how to incorporate VOiP into the classroom (Erben, T. & Sariena, L. 2007) (Zhang, F. & Barber, B. 2008).
2. SCMS using Skype outside the classroom
Students can work on Skype SCMC tasks at home. They can practise delivering oral presentations with peers, regardless of geographical location (Chang, L. & Yang, Y. C., 2006). Assessment of speaking and listening are components of the English curriculum in Victoria under both VELS and the VCE. Students can exchange work with each other and discuss improvements prior to submission. Students are motivated to continue discussions outside the classroom where they have access to social software such as Skype (Bryant, 2006).
Implications
Positive
Students find computer-oriented tasks engaging. CMC can take students' learning outside the classroom, even to international contexts. Students enjoy Skype chat because it is less confronting than speaking to a stranger in person (LaPointe, D., K. & Barrett, K., A., 2005).
Negative
There are risks associated with unsupervised internet activities outside of school. Students can be vulnerable to direct and indirect abuse. This is very problematic for students who are under the age of consent. For example, Skypecasts advertised from the Skype website included several with explicit adult content.There is also a risk that students will focus on social aspects of Skype conversations without teacher supervision.
Voice Mode
VOiP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) | Examples | Implications
VOiP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)
VOiP is synchronous computer mediated communication that appeared in about 2004. Many VOiP providers, including Skype, provide text chat concurrently with voice. There is not yet much research on VOiP in teaching and learning, especially not in primary or secondary education. Most VOiP providers offer free calls between members. That is, a free Skype account-holder can call Skype account-holders for free anywhere in the world at any time. The examples used here relate to Skype, but teachers could use other providers.
In 2007 the effectiveness of Skype as a learning tool was examined in Yang & Chang (2007). The findings were not conclusive, but students' oral English proficiency improved when they used Skype. The research focused on whether a structured synchronous CMC discussion would improve English oral proficiency more than an unstructured synchronous CMC discussion. The researchers discovered the experimental group and the comparison groups increased their oral proficiency by about the same amount.
Below is a Teachertube example of a synchronous CMC event mediated through Skype. It a conference between a tutorial group, a tech-smart teacher and Wesley Fryer, a teacher-advocate of new technologies in the classroom (his webpage is here). This video represents a fraction of the potential of VOiP technology in education. In it Wes, Miguel Guhlin and a class of adult learners discuss the advantages of Skype in the classroom. Note how teachers remain in control, with occasional questions from students without a microphone (hence the poor audio quality of these 'outside' voices).
The discussion refers to Pamela and Call Recorder. These inexpensive applications enable the recording of Skype conversations as well as the production of video footage and mashups, which can be used as assessment tasks or posted onto content sharing sites. Participants in conferences can also exchange files (eg. .doc, .pdf, .mp4 ) using Skype.
Examples
1. Classroom-based SCMC using Skype
English/English Skype conversations have taken place between Isik College students and students from international sister colleges in USA, Turkey and Malaysia. Below is an example of the type of conversations that might take place. Far from perfect, these conversations are halting and there is considerable nervous laughter from the participants. However, with practice and familiarity, such voice chat activities become more productive. Dickinson College in Pennsylvania USA now uses Skype extensively in its language teaching and learning (Bryant, 2006). Textbooks are now being produced that advise teachers how to incorporate VOiP into the classroom (Erben, T. & Sariena, L. 2007) (Zhang, F. & Barber, B. 2008).
2. SCMS using Skype outside the classroom
Students can work on Skype SCMC tasks at home. They can practise delivering oral presentations with peers, regardless of geographical location (Chang, L. & Yang, Y. C., 2006). Assessment of speaking and listening are components of the English curriculum in Victoria under both VELS and the VCE. Students can exchange work with each other and discuss improvements prior to submission. Students are motivated to continue discussions outside the classroom where they have access to social software such as Skype (Bryant, 2006).
Implications
Positive
Students find computer-oriented tasks engaging. CMC can take students' learning outside the classroom, even to international contexts. Students enjoy Skype chat because it is less confronting than speaking to a stranger in person (LaPointe, D., K. & Barrett, K., A., 2005).Negative
There are risks associated with unsupervised internet activities outside of school. Students can be vulnerable to direct and indirect abuse. This is very problematic for students who are under the age of consent. For example, Skypecasts advertised from the Skype website included several with explicit adult content.There is also a risk that students will focus on social aspects of Skype conversations without teacher supervision.References / Bibliography
Here
Further Information and Resources
links / vidoes / other